Bucey-Card Earns State Berth as Pulaski County Cross Country Shines at Regionals

Nina Bucey-Card receives her All-Region award.

BRISTOL – The Pulaski County High School cross-country teams traveled to Sugar Hollow Park in Bristol on Wednesday for the VHSL Region 3D Championships, where sophomore Nina Bucey-Card delivered an outstanding performance to earn All-Region honors and qualify for the Class 3 State Championships.

The competition was brutal, with some of Southwest Virginia’s strongest runners battling for the opportunity to advance. But for the Cougars, the championship was also an opportunity to demonstrate just how far they had come throughout the season.

There was a sense of déjà vu as Pulaski County returned to the same challenging three-mile course the team had raced just two weeks earlier at the Don Cumbow Invitational. This time, however, the Cougars were determined to get back some of the seconds they had left on the course.

Bucey-Card led the way, crossing the finish line in 20:54.4 to finish 11th overall. Her performance earned her All-Region recognition and an individual berth at the upcoming state championships.

The sophomore improved her previous time on the course by nearly two minutes, having finished in 22:49.98 just two weeks earlier. That kind of progress doesn’t happen by accident. Bucey-Card has been focused on improving throughout the season, and her dedication paid off when it mattered most.

The Cougar girls finished sixth overall with 151 points, with every runner improving her time from the team’s previous visit to Sugar Hollow.

Senior Dani Carroll finished in 23:20.4, followed closely by freshman Brianna Farmer in 23:23.0. Farmer improved by nearly 45 seconds, a result that was good for her confidence heading into next season.

Freshman Katina Caldera delivered one of the day’s biggest improvements, cutting more than four minutes from her previous performance to finish in 24:26.8. Freshman KayDee Decker also made a significant jump, finishing in 25:50.3, more than a minute and a half faster than her previous time.

Sophomore Kaylin Keiper rounded out the Cougar girls’ performances in 37:11.2, improving by approximately four minutes.

For a team that has become obsessed with getting better, Wednesday’s results offered plenty of encouragement. The improvements were more than just numbers on a results sheet. They reflected months of consistent training and a willingness to push through difficult workouts.

On the boys’ side, senior Jonah Morgan led Pulaski County with a time of 18:07.7, followed by sophomore Cecil Black in 18:32.3. The duo has consistently helped set the pace for the Cougars throughout the season.

Sophomore Xander Sargent finished in 20:32.1, followed by sophomore Mason Hayes in 22:02.3 and freshman Caedon Sprague in 25:45.3. The Cougar boys finished eighth overall with 253 points.

Cross country is rarely a sport that offers an easy answer. Some races go according to plan, while others test an athlete’s patience and determination. For Pulaski County, the cure for a difficult race has often been to return to practice, trust the process, and prepare for the next opportunity.

Wednesday’s performances showed the value of that approach. For a roster featuring several freshmen and sophomores, the experience gained at the regional level represents a logical step forward for the program.

The meet also marked the conclusion of the high school cross-country careers of seniors Dani Carroll and Jonah Morgan, whose leadership and dedication have helped guide the younger runners throughout the season.

Before departing for Bristol, the Cougars received a little hometown support from The Dawg House in Dublin, which generously provided breakfast biscuits for the team. The program extends its appreciation to The Dawg House, along with the families and community members who have supported the athletes throughout the fall.

For most of the Cougars, the regional championship brought another season to a close. But for Bucey-Card, there is still one more race ahead.

She will represent Pulaski County at the VHSL Class 3 State Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 7, at Green Hill Park in Salem.

With her regional performance behind her, Bucey-Card now turns her attention to the state meet, carrying big expectations and the confidence that comes from one of her strongest performances of the season.

And for a runner who has worked all fall to reach this moment, the opportunity to compete among Virginia’s best is a reward worth celebrating.